Vehicle lifting and rotating apparatus



OCt. 17, 1933. J A. POTVIN ET AL 1,930,959

VEHICLE LIFTING AND ROTATING APPARATUS Filed April 7, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheei; l

` Attornsy` Oct. 17, 1933. J. A. PoTvlN ET AL VEHICLE LIFTING AND ROTATING APPARATUS Filed April '7, 1935v 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Attorney Oct. 17, 1933. 1 A- Po'rvlN ET AL 1,930,959

VEHICLE LIFTING AND ROTATING APPARATUS Filed April 7, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 L Y: /FEWHHHHHHllllllwllllllllllllu El /7 Patented Oct.` 17, 1933i a UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE-iii,

' 20. which `may be so attached tothe vehicle as to vEHiCnEL LIFTING AND ROTTING APPARATUS. y

Jeph A. Potvin," st. Remi, Quebec, and Florent d Potvin, Montreal, Quebec, Canada" v Application April" 1933.` Serial No.y 664,972-v 3 claims. (ci. 25447) ,Y

The present invention relatesto apparatus for lifting and rotating automobiles'and the like. i

An important object 'of the invention is the provision of vehicle lifting and rotating apparatus' 5 designed so that the vehiclevmay be elevated for replacing tires. Y

d A further thereafter rotated 'about or repairing one or more of the wheel object of the invention is the pro-v vision of apparatus of the "above character` conv-` i structed so that the vehicle may be` elevated and the axis of a turntable forming part of the apparatus. y yAnother object ofthe invention is the provision of apparatus of the above character embodying a:

plurality of lifting jacks rattached to the vehicle and arranged so that they may be operated singly or in multiple.

1 Still yanother object of the invention is the provision' of apparatus of the above' character A still further object ofv the invention istiiej provision of vehicle lifting and rotating apparatus `embodying ya novel structure.

and eilcient turntable Another object of theiinventi'on is the provision of. apparatus of the aboveY character which will be durable in construction, reliable in operation, and which may be readilyattachedj to coni/enf tional types of automobiles.

k Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description pro- Y In the accompanying drawings forming a part` `of this specificationy and characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughoutthe in which like `reference Same I Figure 1 isa side elevational lview/fof an auto-- mobile equipped'with the new apparatua'with the completely elevated,

, Figure. 5 is a top plan view of the vehicle showing, in dotted lines,`positions to which the vehicle may be rotated,

Figure 6 is a transverse fragmentary` section through the vehicle showing Athegapparatus attached thereto,

Figure 7 is a-horzontal section showing parts of through thesame.

' taken on the'li'ne15-15 ofvFigure`8, 1

kvof the jacks in; extended arrangement,`

through the extensible rotary drive structure,

trol mechanism,`

line 20-20 of Figure13, and Y f 'compartment 36. Depending'frorn-the `central i ratus,

Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal section taken diagrammatically through the turntable, Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical section vshowingthe drive-mechanismf i Figure 10 is a horizontal section taken onthe line 10-10 ofFigureQ, 1' mi f f l,

Figure 11/ is a longitudinal section taken on the line 11-11 of, Figure '7,k f

Figure 12 is asimilar View 12e-,12 of Figure 7 v i `Figure 13 is av vertical central section through one ofthe lifting jacks `in `contracted arrangenient, i v

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary section d taken on the line" Figure 15 is :an/enlarged horizontal section Figure r16 iS alongitudinal section through one `75` d Figure 17 is van Aenlarged horizontal section.` taken on theline 17-1'7 of Figure 12,V

Figure 18 -is a longitudinal vertical section Figure 19 is anwenlarged fragmentarysectionl through the instrument board showingthecon v Figure 20is a horizontal` section taken on the Figure v21 is .a i fragmentaryvertical ,section Referring to the drawings, wherein for the pur-A poseof illustration is showna preferrediembodiment of the invention, theletter` Ahgenerally p designates an p automobile of conventi,'onall con-x l .struction embodying lachassis 30 andn an instrument board 31, a' Y i Connectedfto the chassis 30`v through the niediumof brackets33 are a plurality .of,`in the present instance four., extensibleliftingjacks. Each of the jacks B embodiesa cylindrical head section 34 havinga partitionv plate 35v disposed be'-` lowfthe top and forming inthe head section a gear f portion-of the partition 35 and rotatably associated therewith is an exteriorly threaded centre screw 37, having the upper part journalled inthe partition and the lower threaded part threadedly engaging `a secondv screw section. The screw 38 is also exteriorly threaded and is provided with a longitudinal interiorly threaded bore adaptedlto` receive the centre` screw 37 therein@ The screw section 38vthreadedly engages va third screw section ,39 likewise interiorlyfandexteriorlyfscrewf threaded and operating with an interiorlythreaded `fourth section 40. As shown to advantage at Figure14, the exterior threads of the screws 37 and 38 are formed with a continuous groove terminating adjacent the bottom and adapted to receive therein pins 41 attached to thel upper ends ofthe screw sections 38 and 39. The screw 39 is formed with a spiral groove in the shank between the threads to receive therein a pin 42 attached to the upper end portion of the screw section 49. At thelower end of the section 46 is formed a base plate 46 provided with a flange projecting outwardly thereof. At-the bottomofftheplate 40V is formed a' depending ball 43 forming one section of a ball socket joint. l l Y Three slidably connected telescopic casing sections 44 are connected with thejackhead and with the screw sections and areadapted to assume extended positions when the sections are extended to a lifting arrangement. These casing sections are disposed. to brace. the jacks when they are disposed in extended position.

The lower ends of each of the jacks B are connected with a turntable structure indicated at C.

The turntable C embodies a relatively flat circular base plate 46 provided at the peripheral margin with 'an upwardly offset rim 47.- To the,k centre of the baseplate 46 is connected an upwardly projecting pivot bolt 48. Formed concentrically `on the plate 46 is an annular interiorly toothed ring gear 49. Rotatably supported on the base plate 46 is a circular top plate 50 having an aperture at the centre through which the pivot bolt 48is extended andresting on ball bearings 51 or any suitable form of friction reducing bearing.

structure'. To the vperipheral edge of the top section 50 is connected an annular cover channel 52 covering the edge portion of vthebase plate 46. At spaced intervals on'the topcplate 50 are sevcured socket members 53 Vadapted to engage the ball sections 43 at the lower ends of Vthe jacks, to.

provide a universal connection between the jacks and the turntable.

/Disposed within and meshing with the ring gear 49 is a drive .pinion 55 secured on a vertical spindle projected upwardly through'the top -plate 50 and attached to the ball section 56' ofa ball and socket joint. The pinion is rotated through the instrumentality of an extensible shaft embodying a plurality of longitudinally slidable and telescopic sections 57 connected at the top with a cylindrical head member 58.' The extensible jack y l forming sections 57 are-also reinforced by telel portion 58 of therextens'ible pinion drive shaft 57.`

scopic casing sections 59.

Extending longitudinally adjacent the side bars of the chassis 30 and rotatably journalled thereon area pair of elongated jack operating shafts 61, extending through the head compartments vof the ,jacks Aarranged at each side of the chassis. A

transversely extending operatingshaft 62 is also journalled on bearings attached to the chassis and extends between the'side bars thereof. yThe shaft '62 extends transversely through the head shaft 62 is fitted with Worm wheels 65 meshing vwith worms 66 secured on the side shafts 61 and rotating the latter in unison with the shaft 62.

The worm wheel 63 of the shaft62 is in mesh with a worm 68 secured on the upper end of a shaft 69 journalled in the topl of a gear casing 70. To the lower end of the shaft 69 is secured a bevel gear 71, inmeshwith a complementary bevely gear 72 keyed on a shaft 73 journalled longitudinally in the casing 70. A spur gear 74 is also .keyed on the shaft 73 andV is normally held in ar non-operating position by means of a compression 'spring 75. The gear 74 may be manually shifted through the medium of rbelt crank and lever'mechanism,vgenerally indicated at 76, having connection with a foot pedal 77. Whenthe pedal is depressed, the actuating mechanism 76 will cause the gear 74 to slide on the shaft 73 into mesh with'a drive gear 78 drivenby ythe'vehicle motor. e l

V Onl those portions of the shafts 61 extending rthrough each compartment 36 of the jacks is keyed aslidable sleevey 80` having bevel gears 81 secured to each endthereof.4 The bevel gears 81 maybe slidably actuated to alternately mesh with opposed sides of a bevel gear 82- xed on the upper end of the jack screw 37. Ashifting fork 83 engages the sleeve 80 and is rigidlyvsecured to a rock shaft 84. At the outwardly projecting end of the rock shaft is'fastened a crankarm 85.-..

On thatportion of the transverse shaft 62 extending through the compartment of the yextension shaft-head 58 is also keyed a slidable sleeve 87 having bevel gears 88 secured-tothe ends operable to engage opposite sides rof a bevel gear 8f9xed on the upperend of the extensibleshaft 57'.4 The. sleeve 87 and gears y88 are adjusted through themedium of avrock shaft, a fork attachedvtothe rockushaft engaging the sleeve and an exterior arm 'correspondingto the'shifting mechanism employed to reversibly adjust the gears in thejack transmission means. f k lConnected to the vehiclechassis 30 and projecting .inwardly from opposed 4sides-thereof are a pairfofho'rizontal spindles 9leach sulportirlg thereon a plurality of rotatablelevers 92. Four of the levers 92areconnected with rocker arms 85 of the jacksv whiley a/fth lever connects with the `rocker arm controlling.adjustment" of the of eachknob 95 to releasably hold the vsame in adjusted position.

The apparatus' is` operated vas follows:-

To initially lower the turntable C and thereafterelevate the vehicle abovey the ground, four of the knobs 95 controlling thejack transmission gearing are pulled toward the operator causing one of thebevel gears 81 to engage the bevel gear 82 in each jack compartment. By depressing the foot pedal 77 and operating the vehicle motor, the drive gear train is operatively connected and the screw sections of the jacks are successively r0- tated to extended arrangement. When the jacks are fully extended the knobs are depressed to an intermediate position. l y

To rotate the vehicle, as for instance, to expacked parking position, the fifth knob controlling operation 0f the extension shaft is pulled out- 150 wardly causing one of the bevel gears 88 to mesh with thegear 89 to rotate the extended shaft sections 57 and the spur pinion 55 in a predetermined `direction so that the car is horizontally swung about the axis of the turntable base plate 46, as

shown to advantage at Figure 5. l

If only the front, rear orone side ofthe car are to be supported in elevated position, two of the jacks are lowered by depressing the corresponding knobs 95 to fully inward positions, per-V .A mitting `coiled tension springs 98 having' connection with lthe rock shaft arms, to shift the jack transmission mechanism so that the opposed bevel gear 81 will engage the drive bevel gear .82 to rotate the shaft screws in a retracting direction so that the two `jacks are partially retracted.

It will become apparent that the apparatus is operable to partially or entirely elevate the vehicle f our invention, we

bers, means for connecting the said members in,

depending positions with a vehicle, vehicle motor actuated mechanism for individually extending and retracting the said extensible members, a turntable having connection with the lower ends ofthe extensible membersv and supportedthereby, :the said turntable having a ground engaging` base plate and a top plate rotatably supported `on 1 the base plate, an annular gear xed on thebase plate, a pinion connected with the top platev and 0 in mesh with the said annular gear, and means for rotating the said pinion to rotate the turntable top plate upon 4the base plate.

2. An apparatusy of the character describedA comprising a plurality of extensible lifting mem-l bers, Ameans for connecting the ysaid members in depending positions with a vehicle, vehicle motor actuated mechanism for selectively extending and retracting the said extensible members,` a turn-v table havingl connection with the lower ends of the extensible members and supported thereby,

the said turntable having a ground engaging base plate `and a top plate rotatably supported on the base plate, an annular gear i'lxed on the base plate, a'pinion connected with the top' plate and in mesh with the said annular gear,` andfmechanism,y

operable by thevehicle motor fox-"rotating, the said pinion to rotate the turntable `top plate upon the base plate. Y' l 3.-In apparatus o1' the character'de'scribed, a

,plurality of lei'xtensiblefjacks, Seach of fsaid `jacks including a plurality r,of successively extensible,`A

screw sections, motor driven mechanism for actu' retracted positions, `a ground engaging turntable supported by the jacks, and means for selectively actuating any of said jacks. u

'ating the said screwsections to extended or to j e 105,' ,Y l

asf-w 

